The Habeeb Okunola Foundation (HOF) has empowered and honoured women in Brampton as part of activities marking International Women’s Day 2026, transforming a routine community gathering into a platform for entrepreneurship and economic inclusion.
The event, held on March 13, 2026, in collaboration with Make Mee Elegant Foundation, the City of Brampton, and The Salvation Army, focused on equipping women with practical skills and recognising their contributions to society.
At the core of the initiative was a hands-on training session hosted at The Salvation Army facility in Brampton, where participants were trained in making flip-flop slippers, cloth stoning, and crafting fancy key holders skills aimed at fostering self-reliance and creating alternative income streams.
Speaking through her representative, Mrs. Kehinde Adelaja-Okoroafor, the founder of HOF, Habeeb Olalekan Okunola, emphasised that true wealth lies in empowerment, noting that the programme was designed not just to impart skills but to nurture entrepreneurship among women.
In a move to support immediate business take-off, three outstanding participants were awarded start-up capital, enabling them to translate their newly acquired skills into viable ventures.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, commended the foundation’s initiative, describing it as a strategic investment in the economic future of women in the city.
He also conveyed appreciation to the foundation’s founder and signalled the city’s readiness to explore future collaborations, with a proposed meeting slated for May 2026.
The programme extended into March 14 with an awards ceremony where notable women in Brampton were recognised for their contributions to community development, with the Deputy Mayor representing the Mayor at the event.
The twin focus on capacity building and recognition, stakeholders noted, underscores a shared commitment by the partnering organisations to promote gender equality and sustainable development through women empowerment.
